title: Effect of cigarette smoking on fractional exhaled nitric oxide in Saudi medical college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To see the levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in young adult smokers and its relationship with duration and dose of smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the department of Physiology of College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 2009 to June 2009. A total of 60 medical students were initially recruited and 48 were finally selected for the study after fulfilling our selection criteria. FENO measurements were performed online according to the recent American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines and ventilatory functions were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in age, Body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the two groups was non significant. Lung function parameters included FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio and the difference was non significant between the two groups. It was observed that FENO was significantly lower in smokers than non smokers (16.62 +/- 5.13 verses 24.35 +/- 6.17, p=0.0001). No relationship of FENO was observed with duration and dose of smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young adult smokers exhibit lower levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide compared to non smokers. This could be an early indicator of effects of smoking on lungs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Syed Shahid
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Shaikh Mujeeb
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Abdul Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al Drees
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Husain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D013337:Students, Medical; D014495:Universities; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide